Snapping type overcap for dispensing container



May 1, 1962 w. E. TAYLOR 3,032,234

SNAPPING TYPE OVERCAP FOR DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Feb. 4, 1959 IN VEN TOR. W/ZL/AM [OW/IEO T4 YA 0f AGENT Uited States Patent C) 3,032,234 SNAPPING TYPE OVERCAP FOR DISPENSING CQNTAENER William Edward Taylor, Fairfield, Conn, assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Feb. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 791,206 3 Claims. (Cl. 220-60) The present invention relates to containers having dispensing devices carried in upwardly extending breast portions, and more particularly to such containers wherein substantially full size overcaps are held in snap-fit engagement with the breast portions to protect the dispensing devices when the containers are not in use.

The recent development of the aerosol package has resulted in the widespread use of metal cans wherein a centrally disposed dispensing valve mechanism projects upwardly above the top of the can. If not protected, this valve mechanism presents problems during the normal handling and merchandising of such containers, since the product will be dispensed if pressure is inadvertently exerted against the exposed valve mechanism. This may result in unsightly and/or short weight packages. Further, the exposed valve mechanism frequently detracts from the appearance of quality packages, and prevents stacking of the containers one upon the other.

Much thought has been given to overcoming these problems, and the most practical solution has been to provide an overcap which covers the valve mechanism. Many types of overcaps have been used, but most of them are deficient, on one count or another, from the standpoint either of cost, appearance, stacking ability, or reliability of retention on the can.

The present invention provides an overcap which eliminates the objectionable features of the heretofore used overcaps.

An object of the invention, therefore, is the provision, in'an aerosol can, of an overcap which not only protects the valve mechanism, but in addition greatly enhances the appearance of the can and provides a broad fiat stacking surface which permits the stacking of one can upon another.

Another object is the provision of an overcap having an inwardly curled bead which is snapped beneath an outwardly projecting shoulder in the breast of the can to securely hold the overcap against inadvertent displacement.

Yet another object is the provision of such a container and overcap construction wherein the interengaging parts may be die formed to insure uniformity of dimension, and thus of fit. I

Still another object is to provide a snap-on overcap for a double seamed can which does not require mutilation of the top end seam, and the consequent danger of leakage therethrough, for its assembly to the can.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the principles of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, parts being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a can embodying a slightly modified form of the invention, the can being illustrated with its overcap removed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, sim- "ice ilar to FIG. 2, but taken in a vertical plane through one of the spaced shoulder sections formed in the breast portion of the can as illustrated in FIG. 3, parts being broken away; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of two stacked cans made according to the principles of the instant invention, parts being shown in section, other parts being shown in dotted lines, and still other parts being broken away.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, the drawing illustrates a container comprising a cylindrical body 12 preferably formed of a. single sheet of metal having its longitudinal marginal portions secured in a suitable side seam (not shown). The lower end or" the body 12 is closed by means of a substantially flat bottom closure 14 which is secured to the body in a conventional double seam 16.

The upper end of the body 12 is closed by a top end member 18 which has its marginal peripheral portion interlocked with the upper marginal end portion of the body 12 to form a conventional hermetic double seam 20. The upper end member 18 extends inwardly from the bottom of the vertical countersink wall 22 of the double seam and is curved upwardly and formed into an upwardly extending upstanding breast 24 which projects a substantial distance above the top double seam 20 (see FIGS. 2 and 5).

cal configuration, while its lower portion comprisesa gently curved annular wall 26 which forms the base of the breast 24 and is closely spaced inwardly of the top.

double seam 20' to provide an annular space or countersunk channel 28 therebetween. The upper portion of the annular wall 26 is bulged outwardly to form an outwardly projecting annular locking bead or shoulder 30'.

which is of slightly greater diameter than the portion of the wall 26 immediately therebelow. The shoulder 30 and the adjacent portion of the curved wall 26 define therebetween a shallow, outwardly facing groove 37,

FIG. 2, for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained.-

The frusto-conical breast portion terminates in a centrally disposed mouth or opening into which is clinched a cup-shaped fitting 31 which carries a dispensing valve 32 having a dispensing orifice 34 provided therein (see FIG. 5).

The dispensing valve 32 may be of any conventional type. As a rule, such valves are designed to bring the dispensing orifice 34 into communication with the interior of the container to dispense the product therefrom when lateral or downward pressure is exerted against the valve 32. In order to prevent the inadvertent application of such pressure during shipment, storage and merchandising of the filled container, and to permit the stable stacking of like containers one upon the other, a cylindrical overcap 36 is provided which completely encloses the container breast 24 and dispensing valve 32.

This overcap 36 is preferably formed from a drawnone-piece metal blank and is formed with an annular depending side wall or skirt 3'8 and a flat top wall 40.

The lower end of the annular side wall '38 of the overcap 36 is rolled inwardly to provide an inwardly projecting curl or bead 42 which snaps over the shoulder into groove 37 on breast 24 Within the annular space 28 in close engagement with the upper and lower outwardly extending surfaces of groove 37 beneath the shoulder. Due to the inherent resiliency of the material from which the overcap 36 is made, the inward curl 42 may be yieldably snapped into groove 37 beneath the shoulder 30 and also easily snapped in a reverse direction upwardly over the shoulder 30 to remove the overcap from the container 10 to uncover the valve 32 and permit dispensing The upper portion 25 of the, breast 24 is substantially of dome shaped or frusto-coni-l of the container contents. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outside diameter of the side wall or skirt 38 is less than the inside diameter of countersink wall 22, whereby the cylindrical annular side wall 38 of the overcap 36 is spaced slightly inwardly from the vertical countersink wall. Thus sufiicient clearance is provided to permit outward distension or flexing of the cap curl and skirt during manual positioning of the cap on or removal of the cap from the breast 24 by snapping the cap over the shoulder 30. from one sixteenth to one quarter of an inch, but these figures are not to be considered as limitations upon the inventive concept. Thus, when the overcap 36 is snapped onto the container 10', the engagement of curl 42 with the upper and lower outwardly extending surfaces of groove 37 prevents any free axial or rattling movement of the overcap relative to the container. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 2, the overcap top wall 40 and skirt 3% are spaced from and free of engagement with any portion of the container 10, the sole engagement between overcap 36 and container constituting the frictional engagement of curl 42 with groove 37.

The locking shoulder 30 preferably is formed by die action. Since it is not incorporated in the double seam 20, it is not disturbed by the double seaming operation. Thus, its dimensions can be accurately maintained regardless of variations in the seaming action of the closing machine which forms the double seam 20. The curled bead 42 of the overcap 36 is also preferably die formed, thus insuring accuracy of dimension so that the desired snapfit engagement between these parts can be consistently maintained in large scale commercial production.

As seen in FIG. 1, the overcap 3'6 completely conceals the breast 24 and valve 32, thus giving a pleasing appearance to the container. At the same time, the flat top wall 40 of the overcap is of sufiicient diameter to provide a broad stacking surface when in stacking engagement with the flat panel of the bottom closure 14 of a like container, as seen in FIG. 5.

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate a modified form of the invention wherein the locking shoulder of the breast 24 is not continuous but is rather a discontinuous or interrupted shoulder comprising three circumferentially spaced shoulder portions 44 which project laterally outwardly from the bottom of the breast adjacent the top of the curved base wall 26 and cooperate to define the grooves 37 having the same yieldable locking action as does the groove 37 beneath the continuous annular shoulder 30 of FIG. 2. It will be understood that as used in the appended claims, the word shoulder includes both forms and all equivalents thereof.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its mate- In actual practice, this distance may vary.

"S rial advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

1 claim:

1. A dispensing container having a dispensing opening and a protective overcap therefor, comprising a container body having a top end, said top end including a peripheral vertical countersink wall inwardly of the container body, said countersink wall at its lowermost end extending laterally inwardly and merging with an upwardly curved annular base wall of a central upstanding frustoconical breast to define an annular countersunk channel between said base Wall and said countersink wall, said breast terminating at its upper end in a dispensing opening, said overcap having a top wall and a cylindrical skirt depending therefrom, said skirt terminating at its lower end in an inwardly extending curl, means for confining said curl and the adjacent lower skirt end within said countersunk channel to prevent accidental dislodgement of said overcap from said container, said means comprising a shoulder formed on said breast above said curved base wall and disposed within said countersunk channel, said shoulder and the adjacent portion of said base wall defining therebetween an outwardly facing groove spaced above the bottom of said channel, said groove having upper and lower outwardly extending surfaces for receiving and engaging said curl and retaining said overcap on said container against free axial movement relative thereto when said overcap curl is snapped downwardly over said shoulder, said overcap top wall and said skirt being spaced from and free of engagement with said container, the engagement of said curl with said groove constituting the sole engagement of said overcap with said container, and said skirt having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said countersink wall whereby said skirt is spaced from said countersink wall for permitting outward flexing of said skirt in snapping said overcap over said shoulder into said groove.

2. The dispensing container of claim 1, wherein a plurality of circumferentially spaced arcuate shoulders are formed integrally with and extend laterally outwardly from the lower end of said container breast for the purpose described.

3. The dispensing container of claim 1, wherein said shoulder is circumferentially continuous around said breast.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,459,589 Hoffman June 19, 1923 2,031,172 Maloney Feb. 18, 1936 2,403,030 Solinsky July 2, 1946 2,449,285 Ekstrom Sept. 14, 1948 2,661,128 Rieke Dec. 1, 1953 2,775,372 Jordan Dec. 25, 1956 2,818,997 Henchert Jan. 7, 1958 2,884,160 Abplanalp Apr. 28, 1959 

